PART II: UNIT III: 1450 - 1750C.E.In the previous era (600-1450 C.E.), sometimes called thepost-classical period, we explored the rise of new civilizations inboth hemispheres, the spread of major religions that created culturalareas for analysis, and an expansion of long-distance trade toinclude European and African kingdoms. However, no sustained contactoccurred between the eastern and western hemisphere. During the timeperiod between 1450 and 1750 C.E., the two hemispheres were linkedand for the first time in world history, long-distance trade becametruly worldwide. QUESTIONS OF PERIODIZATION

This era includes only 300 years, but some profound andlong-lasting changes occurred. Characteristics of the time between1450 and 1750 include: 1) The globe was encompassed - For the first time, thewestern hemisphere came into continued contact with the easternhemisphere. Technological innovations, strengthened politicalorganization, and economic prosperity all contributed to this changethat completely altered world trade patterns. 2) Sea-based trade rose in proportion to land-based trade -Technological advancements and willingness of political leadersto invest in it meant that sea-based trade became much moreimportant. As a result, old land-based empires lost relative power tothe new sea-based powers. 3) European kingdoms emerged that gained world power - Therelative power and prosperity of Europe increased dramatically duringthis time in comparison to empires in the longer-establishedcivilization areas. However, Europe did not entirely eclipse powerfulempires in Southwest Asia, Africa, and East Asia. 4) The relative power of nomadic groups declined - Nomadscontinued to play an important role in trade and cultural diffusion,and they continued to threaten the borders of the large land-basedempires. However, their power dwindled as travel and trade by waterbecame more important. 5) Labor systems were transformed - The acquisition ofcolonies in North and South America led to major changes in laborsystems. After many Amerindians died from disease transmitted bycontact with Europeans, a vigorous slave trade from Africa began andcontinued throughout most of the era. Slave labor became veryimportant all over the Americas. Other labor systems, such as themita and encomienda in South America, were adapted from previousnative traditions by the Spanish and Portuguese. 6) "Gunpowder Empires" emerged in the Middle East and Asia- Empires in older civilization areas gained new strength fromnew technologies in weaponry. Basing their new power on "gunpowder,"they still suffered from the old issues that had plagued land-basedempires for centuries: defense of borders, communication within theempire, and maintenance of an army adequate to defend the largeterritory. By the end of the era, many were less powerful than thenew sea-based kingdoms of Europe. MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS - 1450-1750C.E.

We will investigate the broad, important characteristics of thistime period outlined above by studying these major topics: • Changes in Trade, Technology, and Global Interactions - The Atlantic Ocean trade eventually led to the crossing of the Pacific Ocean. New maritime technologies made these interactions possible, and global trade patterns changed dramatically. • Major Maritime and Gunpowder Empires - Major maritime powers include Portugal, Spain, France, and England, and major Gunpowder Empires were the Ottoman, Ming and Qing China, the Mughal, Russia, Tokugawa, Songhay (Songhai), and Benin. • Slave systems and slave trade - This was the big era for slave systems and slave trade, with the new European colonies in the Americas relying on slavery very heavily. The slave trade was an important link in the Atlantic Ocean trade. • Demographic and environmental changes - The new trade patterns greatly altered habitats for plants and animals and resulted in changes in human diet and activities as well. Major migrations across the Atlantic Ocean also...

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...Introduction
Traditional healers also known as curanderismo are important part of Latin American culture, society and a way of life. Traditional healers have been a part of Latin American culture for thousands of years and even today are considered as important as the traditional health care professionals (Avila, 1999). The services of these healers are used extensively and they are well respected and admired members of the community. Not anyone can be a healer and in order to become one a special talent and extensive training is needed (Avila, 1999). The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role of traditional healers in Latin American culture and to discuss what economic, social and religious reasons traditional healers are still so popular in this day and age in LatinAmerica.
Who Can Be a Traditional Healer?
One of the most interesting aspects of the traditional healers in LatinAmerica is that no everyone can be one. This is a striking contrast with traditional medical professionals where calling has become something secondary and where more people than not go into the medical field not because of genuine desire to help but because it pays well. The story is completely different for the traditional healers as the next generation is carefully hand-picked based on what is called “el don” or a gift (Avila, 1999). This gift cannot be acquired or trained, a person...

...&#65279; Slavery in the Americas was quite diverse. Mining operations in the tropics experienced
different needs and suffered different challenges than did plantations in more temperate areas of
Norther Brazil or costal city's serving as ports for the exporting of commodities produced on the
backs of the enslaved peoples from the African continent. This essay will look at these different
situations and explore the factors that determined the treatment of slaves, the consequences of
that treatment, and the conditions that lead to resistance by the slaves working in their various
capacities.
After the initial conquest of Mexico and South America it was time to develop the
economy and export the resources that would benefit the monarchy back home in Spain and
Portugal. Silver and Gold were two such commodities. Silver mines in Northern Mexico were
supervised by blacks who directed the Indians in the arduous task of extracting the precious
metal. Gold in Central Mexico was also mined by blacks. The Gold mining regions were hot,
tropical, isolated areas of the jungle. The regions were sparsely populated and it was difficult to
keep the locals as a work force. The introduction of disease in the tropics made these areas
death zones to the indigenous people as they had no resistance to the virulent plagues. There was
a need to get cheap or free labor that would be capable of resisting the disease and who would be
easier to...

...Jordon Stanton
“Latin American politics since independence have been characterized by
instability, authoritarianism, and violence. In a three page essay please discuss the role of
the military in creating such problems using the chapter in the course reader entitled “The
Good Sailor.” Also, discuss whether or not the Argentinean case is typical or unique to
LatinAmerica. Provide explanations and analysis from “The Good Sailor,” lecture, and
the textbook. An “A” paper will use all three. Use size 12 Times New Roman font. The
paper must be typed (or word-processed) on standard size paper (8 ½ by 11) and double spaced with appropriate margins. Use MLA format with parenthetical citations-i.e.
(Rosenberg, 84).”
"Violence in LatinAmerica is a significant part because so much of it is political: planned, deliberate, and carried out by organized groups of society. It is used to make a point." The above quote supports that the violence and military is interrelated and it is used as tool by the military to instill fear and dominate people of the LatinAmerica.
Ranked as the third most unstable region in the world in the post-war era, political instability has been a pervasive problem in LatinAmerica. Whether it is a caudillo, a charismatic boss with an armed following, or a general leading a golpe de estado or an authoritarian institution,...

...To what extent are the current social divisions in LatinAmerica the result of colonial socio-political structures?
LATINAMERICA STUDY ESSAY
To what extent are the current social divisions in LatinAmerica the result of colonial socio-political structures?
INTRODUCTION
The Spanish and Portuguese colonial period in LatinAmerica lasted from 1492 to 1810. 300 years of violent domination, genocides, exploitation, repression of the native religion and culture, and native history re-writing. Also, the slave trade was at his peak time and thousands of persons kidnapped in Africa have been brought to America in slavery condition.
“The destruction of whole cultures – in every sense – left the majority of the population lost and struggling to find their identities, a struggle which continues to this day. (About.com, 2009)
In this essay I will explore the historical roots of “race stratification” and national elite during the colonial and postcolonial period in LatinAmerica.
Colonial “castas” system
Colons developed a complex caste system based on race. This determined a person’s position in the. They created over one hundred miscegenation.
* Peninsular: Spaniard from Spain
* Criollo; criolla: Spanish descendant born in LatinAmerica
* Indio; India: Indigenous...

...The LatinAmerica debt crisis
What Happened
Both internal and external for LatinAmericas roller coaster economic performance in what was known as the crisis. During the 50’s and 60’s there was favorable conditions in place to maintain steady employment creation, capital investment and overall economic expansion. But this period ended in 1973 amid the first world oil crisis rocked the world economy and caused an era of debt-led growth among the oil importing LatinAmerica countries. Latin American countries were hit by a slow down in economic growth. The import bill in these nations sky-rocketed and exports saw a massive slump as demand for Latin American products fell abruptly as the world economy slowed down. When a second oil price shock incurred LatinAmerica was already on their knees and many countries were engaged in deep recession. Borrowing provided a temporary escape from spiraling inflation and declining export revenues. Overflowing with petro dollars the banks were quite willing to meet the increased demand for fresh loans. Over the next five years LatinAmerica struggled to recover and only managed steady growth because of increased borrowing incurring heavy debts. This marked a new phase in Latin America’s economic history – Debt led growth – and illustrates how joining...

...﻿Jaime Morales
History 215-AVN
Berenberg
11/7/12
Was Liberalism good for LatinAmerica?
To truly identify if liberalism was good for LatinAmerica, we must understand what liberalism means, where it came from, and how it started. What is liberalism? Liberalism is a political force that transpired during the 1600s and 1700s. For the most part, liberalism transpired in England and France. What did liberalism represent forLatin Americans during the 1850s and 1920s? Liberalism signified change but most of all progress. "Reason over faith, universal over local values, free market over government control, equal citizenship, and finally representative democracy over all other forms of government." (Chasteen) These are the core principles that liberals were trying to integrate during the post-colonial period. Although liberals had failed to integrate these principles during the post-colonial period, they got a second chance after 1850. In this dissertation, I will provide specific changes that liberalism brought to LatinAmerica. The countries I will focus on will be Argentina, Brazil and Mexico.
Liberalism in Argentina
In 1816, Argentina officially declared their independence from Spain. For several decades after, Argentina was heaved into a sequence of devastating civil conflicts, culminated under brutal tyrant Juan Manuel de Rosas, a conservative. During Rosas reign, two...

...When the Spanish founded Colonial LatinAmerica, the cultures socially, physically, and politically united to form a new society. The Spanish, Indians, and African slaves attempted to embed their homeland’s culture into this new society. This formed a clash of cultures because each came with its own set of norms. The go-betweens played a pivotal role during encounters between the cultures acting as interpreters and the Jesuits as Christian converters. As colonial LatinAmerica society was forming and blending cultures, it strained the social hierarchy of each society, individuals identity and honor, and women’s roles. Many go-betweens entrenched themselves in the new culture forming relationships as a personal opportunity for themselves or to convert indigenous to Christianity. Alida C. Metcalf, author of Go-betweens and the Colonization of Brazil 1500-1600 and authors Lyman L. Johnson and Sonya Lipsett-Rivera who wrote Sex Shame and Violence the Faces of Honor in Colonial LatinAmerica wrote vivid descriptions of Spanish colonial culture. Colonial America unequally blended Spanish and Indian cultures which formed a new hierarchy in society, formed new personal identities, and brought about Christian conversion.
The Spanish came to LatinAmerica with the intentions of making the new territory mirror the culture of their homeland. The Spanish...